a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f t h e v i r g i n i s l a n d s

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d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 n o . 6

next generation, then they give back. That is why it is used as a measure of where the institution stands.”

“As the only HBCU in the Caribbe-

an, the community has rallied around initiatives and campaigns and they have provided us with support – help-ing us to reach and maintain our his-toric goals,” said UVI Director of An-nual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith, class of 1998 and 2003, who has headed up the alumni contribu-tion effort for the past several years.

Alumni throughout the Eastern Caribbean region under the leader-ship of UVI’s Dedicated Alumni Recruitment Teams and those in the United States mainland played a sig-nificant role in this accomplishment, she said. “To everyone who believes in paying it forward or giving back, we thank you for believing and making a difference in the lives of our students. This is our hometown University.”

“We need to remember to sup-port our HBCU’s because they were created to continue to afford us the

he University of the Virgin Is-lands’ alumni have once again

risen to the challenge. In fiscal year 2013-2014, the alumni giving rate rose to 52.49 percent. “We are num-ber one,” said University of the Virgin Islands President David Hall at the 2014 alumni celebration on the Al-bert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. This is the highest alumni contribu-tion rate of any Historically Black College and University in the nation, said Dr. Hall. “There is no HBCU that has numbers like this,” he said. “If you go outside the HBCU realm, there are very few institutions that go beyond 52 percent.”

UVI alumni first made history when they increased the alumni giving rate from six percent to 42

percent, which was a 223 percent increase over previous years. As a re-sult, UVI’s alumni received the 2013 Historically Black Colleges and Uni-

versities Alumni Association of the Year award. In 2013, UVI’s alumni reached an alumni giving rate of 51.73 percent.

“If the alumni feel that the insti-tution has assisted them in achieving their dreams, then they give back to the institution,” said Dr. Hall. “When alumni believe that the institution is continuing to invest in students and doing a very good job nurturing the

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Fiscal Year 2013-2014 was dy-namic for UVI. We are number one! The UVI “First to 50 Chal-lenge: Reloaded” campaign ended with an alumni participa-tion rate of 52.49 percent. Con-gratulations UVI alumni. This year’s campaign, “First to 50 Champions: Back in the Win-ner’s Circle,” was successfully launched on Oct. 1.

This edition of the Alumni Chronicles Newsletter recaps our historic journey over the past year. Proudly, our Miss UVI Elisa Thomas, ‘16, tells her story of winning the national title of Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. Also, the dynamic Chawnique Schjang, ‘14, shares her passion of ser-vice beyond self in the UVI Alumni Affairs office. In 2015, stay connected as the School of Nursing launches “Celebrate 50 Years of Nursing Education” with events throughout the year.

Thank you for your valued support.

Happy Holidays to you and those you hold dear.

Linda I. Smith ‘98, ‘03

Director of Annual Givingand Alumni Affairslsmith@live.uvi.edu

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UVI alumni and friends celebrate in the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas Campus. continued on next page

The community has rallied around initiatives and campaigns and they have provided us with support – helping

us to reach and maintain our historic goals. -Linda I. Smith

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s an undergraduate student, Chawnique Schjang watched

as the University of the Virgin Islands continued to evolve to offer improved services, enhance classroom facilities and add more degree programs. Now, she has returned to her alma mater as a UVI employee to do her part to make this University great.

“I am proud that a small Univer-sity, like ours, is doing great things,” said Schjang, who earned a bach-elor’s degree in biology in 2014.

She is excited that UVI is in the process of creating a School of Medi-cine and grateful to be part of the Alumni Affairs team that worked with the community to make the University’s alumni contribution rate the highest among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Schjang worked with Linda I. Smith, director of Annual Giving and Alumni Af-fairs, to raise the giving rate to 52.49 percent in fiscal year 2013-2014.

Her job title at UVI is administra-tive assistant, but she faced her fears to go above and beyond her job de-scription. “It might not seem so, but I am a very quiet and shy person,”

said Schjang. “Fundraising and be-ing out there saying ‘give back to UVI’ and trying to ask people for money is kind of hard for me.”

Schjang said that her supervisor, Smith, told her it’s not just asking for money. “Ms. Smith said talk to our alumni and friends and tell them all the wonderful things that UVI does and what their donation can

do to help,” she said. After a few trial runs and observing Smith in action, Schjang got an opportunity to prove herself when she fundraised on her own when her supervisor was off is-land attending another UVI event.

Since then, Schjang has solicited do-nations throughout the territory and on other islands in the Caribbean.

Her most memorable day was fundraising at the observation of the

U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands Friendship Day on Oct. 18. Later that day, she and Smith raised funds at the Tessanne Chin and Pres-sure show at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. “The solicitations there were amazing,” she said. “I can’t even be-lieve how much funding we raised in that one day.” Schjang continued, “It was very fun and I met a lot of people.

I connected with a lot of alumni and friends. Now when they see me, they stop me and say hi.”

In May of 2014, Schjang made her first donation to her alma mater, as a member of her class. Now, she is plan-ning to secure her annual gift to UVI, but is caught between donating to the biology program – which has a special place in her heart – or giving to what-ever area at UVI that has the greatest need. One thing she knows for sure is that she will make a gift.

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Chawnique Schjang (left) is interviewed by radio show host Anita Davis at a live remote broadcast of the 2014 Alumni Phonathon.

right to a quality education at an affordable and competitive price, while being globally sensi-tive and steeped in our distinct history,” said Miss UVI Elisa Thomas, who was crowned Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in September 2014. “While the 105 HBCUs represent just three percent of the nation’s institutions of higher learning, they graduate nearly one-quarter of African Americans who earn undergraduate degrees. HBCUs graduate 75 percent more of their African American students than other schools do,” Thomas said.

“First to 50 Champions Back in the Winner’s Circle” was se-lected as the fiscal year 2014-2015 alumni challenge theme. The 2015 challenge is the most important, as the University must maintain three consistent years of 50 percent or greater for the historic record to be officially noted within the annals of his-tory, said Smith. The new theme was selected as part of a contest. UVI alumna Lorna Chesterfield, ‘94, won two tickets to see Kirk Franklin perform at the Reich-hold Center for the Arts on Feb. 7, for her winning submission.

continued from cover

Alumni Spotlight

Chawnique Schjang

I am proud that a small University, like ours, is doing

great things! -Chawnique Schjang

er dream was to be crowned queen in her first national

competition. Elisa Thomas had been crowned princess many times as a young girl. As a teen, she was crowned carnival queen and Miss Charlotte Amalie High School. In college, she competed against six other young ladies for the Miss UVI title and won. On Sept. 27, Thomas made history when she was crowned Miss National Black College Alumni (NBCA) Hall of Fame – becoming the first Miss UVI to win that crown – and fulfilling her dream.

“Being crowned Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame is an amazing feeling,” said Thomas. “To hear my name and school be called literally brought tears to my eyes. I’m proud that I was able to achieve this national recognition not only for the prestigious University of the Virgin Islands, but also for the United States Virgin Islands.” Twen-ty other college queens competed for the title. Thomas also walked away with a win in the “Hats and Heels” segment of the competition.

“I’m honored to represent an or-ganization geared toward the rele-vance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, promoting African American achievement, individual school pride and collective HBCU

pride,” Thomas said. “We are elated Elisa will be repre-

senting our HBCUs during the next twelve months as Miss Hall of Fame,” said Thomas Dortch, Jr., NBCA Hall of Fame Foundation founder and board chairman. “She has proven herself to be very capable of convey-ing the message of educational excel-lence that our HBCUs send.”

“I am extremely proud of Elisa Thomas, Miss UVI, for achieving this outstanding honor of being se-lected as Miss National Black Col-lege Alumni Hall of Fame,” said UVI President Dr. David Hall. “She represented UVI in an excellent way, and now she will represent Histori-cally Black Colleges and Universi-ties.” He continued, “Elisa’s accom-plishment is a compelling reminder that UVI prepares our students to take on and lead the world.”

Thomas is a communication ma-jor at UVI and plans to own and host her own talk show. She also wants to start an organization geared toward pre-adolescent girls entitled

the “Building Blocks of Empower-ment,” become a published writer and start a college fund for students in need of financial assistance. “I just think it’s imperative that we always ask ourselves what we can do for others, because any of us would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for someone assisting us along the way,” she said.

During her reign as Miss NBCA Hall of Fame, Thomas plans to be an advocate promoting the importance of HBCU’s, serve as an effective pan-elist at the various seminars, campus tours and the events she attends. She will also promote more awareness and measures to prevent domestic violence. Her platform as Miss UVI and Miss NBCA Hall of Fame is “Combatting Domestic Violence by Building Stronger Women from a Young Age.” “If I’m able to positively influence at least one person, then I feel I have efficiently carried out my duty as a true queen – a humble ser-vant,” said Thomas.

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Miss UVI Elisa Thomas, who was crowned Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, (foreground) stands with her court at the black college queens competition in Atlanta, Ga.

miSS uVi & miSS nBCA

Elisa Thomas

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Kevin Dixon ‘14, former Student Government

Association president on the Albert A. Sheen Campus,

was selected to participate in the Congressional Black

Caucus Foundation Fall 2014 Emerging Leaders Program. He was placed in United States Congress Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Office in Washington, D.C.

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UVI Alumni Chroniclesat the University of the virgin islands2 John Brewers BaySt. Thomas, VI 00802

We asked UVI Alumni on Facebook to identify their favorite Miss UVI queen. This is what they said:

“Judy Duncan” - Norman Edwards Jr., BA in business 1996, St. Thomas Campus

“Duncan – a Cobra!!” - Ester Boatswain, BA in business 2002, Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix

“Carice Carice!!!!” - Thia Homer, BS in mathematics 2014, St. Thomas Campus

“Sharifa Maloney!” - St. Clair Hodge, BA business marketing 2010, St. Thomas Campus

“Judy Duncan all the way” - Antoinette Boissiere, BA in education 2004, Albert A. Sheen Campus

“Judy Duncan ‘93! - Maureen Lloyd Rigaudon, BA in business 1997, St. Thomas Campus

Did you know that the University of the Virgin Islands nursing pro-gram will celebrate 50 years of nurs-ing education. The College of the Virgin Islands, as UVI was originally named, began its nursing program in 1965, with 25 students.

Dr. Judith Grybowski, UVI pro-fessor emerita, is leading the effort to reunite UVI’s nursing alumni, faculty and friends. Events are being sched-uled for May 15-16, 2015, on St. Thomas and May 17-18, 2015, on St. Croix. The theme is “Caring and Making a Difference.”

Interested class members are asked to contact Dr. Grybowski by email at judithagrybs2@gmail.com or call (340) 775-6349 or (843) 822-2258.Can you name the alumna in this photo,

the year and where this photo was taken?